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North Collins participates in National Night Out

OBSERVER Photo by Andrew David Kuczkowski North Collins Village Police attend National Night Out at North Collins Elementary School. The event’s purpose is to inform the public of public services and safety as well as create a bond between the community and those who serve them.

NORTH COLLINS — The town of North Collins and its Community Watch team put together a National Night Out event on Aug. 1 that could compete with the best of them. It was an all-day festivity where kids and community members alike got to know their police officers, firefighters, emergency squad members and there’s nothing wrong with free food, right?

“It’s a free night out,” North Collins Town Supervisor John Tobia said. “I want to thank Legislator John Mills, who donated us the hot dogs for tonight. Our local Save A Lot store donated the rolls, the cookies, the condiments. The Wesleyan Church donated the ice cream and The Well that never runs dry gave us the water.

“We have a kettle corn guy and of course, we have all of our fire departments here, the rescue squad, the village police department. It’s all about coming out and having a safe, fun night that is inexpensive.”

Every facet of the event was from one part of the town or another. Whether it’s the food or the ability to use the North Collins Elementary School on a summer day, the support was all in for National Night Out and the events the town supports.

Tobia added that many residents feel that North Collins “used to have” many things. This is one event that the supervisor wants the community to realize that it can and does have events that are going on. One asset that the town is using is its past as a way to get the community together.

“I always say this is an old farming town and what really made this place great 130 years ago was the simple things,” Tobia said. “What do the kids do and people do to have fun? Well, you have potato sack races; we have potato sack races. You had simple things like hula hoops and you had simple things like rock, paper, scissors and games. That’s the simple things we’ve done tonight. It costs nothing to do that and they were on their cell phones.”

The town’s event lasted for much of the day, although, the Community Watch team added to it with an fete of its own down in the village. Coinciding with the town, the night portion had a food truck of its own with live music. The expectations, however, were not set. Could North Collins attract enough people to entertain and hold for a long event?

An hour-long food truck line that filled up twice with over 100 people was a solidified yes for Community Watch Coordinator Brandi LoBianco.

“I thought yay and then I also thought, ‘See, I knew that we’ve been wanting something a little different. A little bit of excitement,'” LoBianco said. “I feel that we have these really awesome contributors to North Collins, who we are so grateful for all the time, but like any healthy relationship you have to bring in a little bit of change to make it novelty.”

The food truck came from Hamburg’s Coyote Cafe. Stunningly, the food truck left Boston, N.Y. — a population of 8,023 — early to come down the North Collins — whose population was marked at 1,214 — for National Night Out. Though, a relentless hour long of consistent service didn’t disappoint.

“In Legislator Mills’ words, ‘You have some really good things going on down there in North Collins and I am happy to support the good people down there,'” Tobia said. “And that made me feel great, and that is because he likes the change over the last couple years of what this board is doing and what I am doing. We are getting the support from a lot of people.”

Email: Akuczkowski@observertoday.com

Twitter: @Kuczkowski95

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